Nearly everyone in the world experiences problems, financial troubles & trying situations at one time or another, but some people deal with it better than others. What makes the difference is often not so much these people’s circumstances, but to whom they turn for help. The secret to overcoming any problem or obstacle in life is: Do what you can do, and then rely on the “God factor.”
What is the God factor?
Isaiah 55:9 says, "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts."
In making our plans we must remember that God is in control of the situation, that it's His work, and that He is able to change hearts and situations and make things happen that are far beyond our abilities. That's the "God factor."
What seems logical to the human mind often takes on a different perspective when the God factor comes into play. The God factor is that extra factor in the equation which defies even the laws of nature and makes the impossible possible.
The God factor means standing on God’s promises. It means trusting in Him, believing that nothing is impossible with Him. It means that He’s able to supply all your needs. It means that faith in Him overrides all impossibilities.
God is in the heavenly realm, but He works in the real world. He deals not just in spiritual blessings and rewards, but in tangible, black-and-white, dollars-and-cents material blessings and rewards as well. He's the God of Heaven, and also the God of this present world. He transcends both, rules in both, lives in both, dominates both‚ creates in both, and has the power to pay us in both currencies.
We need to learn to trust Him for the material things that we need—not just our spiritual needs like happiness, purpose, and peace of mind. He's just as powerful‚ just as capable, and just as willing to give us the tangible, practical blessings we need. He has no problem or qualm about pulling cold‚ hard cash out of His pocket for us, if we'll only have the faith to receive it. We need to not limit God in our minds, but realize that His influence is all encompassing and that He is capable of performing miracles in both the spiritual and physical realms. He can and will give us both spiritual and material blessings, and we all need a whole lot of both.
God has given us some amazing promises in His Word. These promises are for real. They have been given to us by our truthful God who never lies. He doesn't exaggerate. He doesn't pump up His promises to lift Himself up or to make us feel good. He gives us His promises because He wants us to believe and claim them as our own, so He can give us all of the great things He has in store for us.
They're not fake promises, but each one is conditional. "Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart" (Psalm 37:4). "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you" (Matthew 6:33). "Give and it will be given to you" (Luke 6:38). "No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly" (Psalm 84:11). They're each dependent on us fulfilling our part of the bargain, which nearly always comes down to keeping His two great commandments: Love God, and love our neighbors as we do ourselves (Matthew 22:37-39). But if we do our part, they are guaranteed to come to pass—not necessarily in the way we want or think they will, but in God's time and way. Like a wise and loving parent, He always knows what's best for us and is happy to give it to us. That's the God factor.
--Adapted from an article by Peter Amsterdam
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